Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1804 – 1805 in Fort Mandan, an encampment they built along the Missouri River that they named after the people of the Mandan Nation. This was an important time for the Corps as they survived the harsh winter months, strengthened associations with Native peoples, and prepared to embark upon the next stage of their journey with the famed interpreter, Sacagawea.

They built the original fort out of wood, and because of this, it no longer survives to this day. In fact, it is most likely under the water of the Missouri River itself.  However, the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation maintains a full-scale reconstruction of the fort near where the original fort would have existed. Additionally, less than two miles away is the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

The two-site location of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and rebuilt Fort Mandan offers visitors many opportunities to connect with the past. In the interpretive center, guests can learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Key features of the center include the Lewis & Clark Gallery, the Fort Clark Exhibit, the Our Agrarian Heritage Exhibit, and the Prince Maximillian and Karl Bodmer Exhibit. Fort Mandan itself offers visitors a chance to view a tangible piece of lost history. Not only did the Foundation bring the structure itself back to life, but they also recreated details inside the fort.  These include room furnishings, tools, clothes, bunks, and much more. Site guides offer visitors further explanation of the fort and its unique components. Daily interpretive programs and hands-on activities offer additional insights into these stories.

Call (877) 462-8535 or visit http://fortmandan.com for more information concerning operating hours, fees, directions, etc.

Credits and Sources:

Content for this Next Exit History site sponsored by the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. For more information visit http://lewisandclark.org/.

Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. Accessed June 2014. http://fortmandan.com/.

The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Accessed June 2014. http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/index.html.

National Park Service – U.S. Department of the Interior. Lewis and Clark in North Dakota. Accessed June 2014. http://www.nps.gov/fous/planyourvisit/upload/LECL_inNDsiteB'tinFINAL.pdf.